Quixote Trimming

14/02/2025

Home from 80°Florida to a Winter Wonderland!
I will be working next week, but I’ll be take my days one hoof at a time 🤪

Stay warm y’all! 🥶❄️

04/02/2025

Just a friendly reminder I will be out of the office from Wednesday the 5th - Tuesday the 11th! I will not be responding to text/calls. See you all next week!

29/01/2025

Happy Hump day! 🐪

17/01/2025

Getting ready for this frigid cold weather Sunday - Tuesday, I think Miss Gracie is good to go! Look at that coat!

Stay Warm everyone! I won’t be out working Monday and Tuesday! See you later in the week! 💪🏽😬

16/01/2025

20 horses on Monday, but I couldn’t stop to photograph this cute little teddy bear, Mr. Captain.

10/01/2025

The animals I get to meet while trimming! A Watusi baby Bull!🐂❤️

09/01/2025

🙌🏼 amen!

Hoofcare Manners

Some of my clients know that I’ve been having some trouble lately, especially with pain in my elbows and collarbone area. I always thought I was young and strong and able to do barn work and hoofcare without any issues; I guess it’s catching up to me!

Having pain when working has really pointed out to me things that occur that likely led to these issues. I look forward to the barns and horses where they allow me to hold up their feet, they stand quietly and let me work without too much trouble. On the flip side, having these aches and pains highlights the horses that fuss, yank, or struggle to hold up a foot while I work.

A small tug of a horse’s leg while I am working can contribute to whatever repetitive strain issues I have going on, and the more this happens, the more I worry I won’t be able to trim at this capacity long term. And I love this job, and want to be able to do it as long as possible.

Now I know in many of these cases, the horse’s pain is playing a role. If it hurts to hold up a hoof, they’re going to communicate in a way they know how to- by asking for their leg back with a shift in bodyweight or a pull. I understand that, and don’t blame them.
On behalf of all hoofcare pros out there- if you have a horse struggling with pain, making it hard for them to stand to get their feet done, ask your vet about options for pain management before the appointment. This will make it easier not only on us, but also on your horse.
Some horses also benefit from standing on gym mats, Sure Foot pads, or softer surfaces when working too.

While I truly believe that horses do not want to be difficult for no reason, and I always default to ruling out pain, there are other situations that can cause a horse to struggle with hoofcare appointments.

-Is it feeding time, and they see the hoofcare pro as an obstacle to their meals?
-Are their friends outside and they’re in alone, and they’re feeling unsafe or herdbound?
-Are they being worked on in an area they don’t usually go to, and they’re feeling insecure or uncertain?

Many of these things are preventable as well, with adjusting when the appointment is or when feeding time is, having an equine friend available to keep the horse company, or working to train your horse to feel comfortable where we need to work on them.

And side note- I do have a handful of clients who will feed hay or treats while I work. I say this is about 50/50 of how successful it is (and my owners and I work out which horses this helps). Some horses just see me as “in the way” of their treats and become more distressed or fussier if fed while I work. Some do great and stand quietly. I am not against food while working if the horse truly is happier and calmer with it.

As I’m taking stock of ways I can prolong my career and keep my body healthy, I notice that how horses stand truly is a HUGE part of that. I genuinely look forward to appointments where the horse is happy to allow me to work (within their comfortable range of motion and being considerate of how I am working, too). I also know that many of us will dread appointments where we feel we have to brace our bodies, tense our muscles, and feel like we are fighting to hold up the weight of a half ton animal.

If your hoofcare pro is mentioning that your horse has trouble standing to be worked on, consider investigating a bit to make the appointment easier not only for us, but for your horse as well. A happy hoofcare pro is a consistent and reliable and healthy hoofcare pro ☺️

Picture of sweet Gus, who used to plow through (literally) holding up a hoof and didn’t want his foot up for more than a few seconds at a time. Some patience and great care and work from the owner on being comfortable holding up his feet, and now he is quite the gentleman.

09/01/2025

My smallest client, we met 3.5 years ago, when she was just weaned, and I’ve learned a lot from little peanut!🥜❤️

P.C. to my assistant for the day Noelle!!

02/01/2025

First horse of 2025!

31/12/2024

2025 ready or not here we come!

I can’t believe how fast this year has gone! I am overwhelmed with joy, excitement, and gratitude. To my clients: The ones that have stuck by me from the very beginning I thank you, I’ve grown so much in 3.5 years (and plan to continuing), and a lot of you have seen that growth! The ones I’ve gained recently I also thank you for being here, some of you I feel like its been so much longer. Without any of you I wouldn’t be here doing what I love for your babies! This year has brought so many great things, next year will only get better!

Happy New Year, Sarah, Jasper, Mowgli, Tater Tot, Blu, Laredo, El bees, Blitz, & Don Julio.

24/12/2024

Merry Christmas to all my wonderful clients! I hope you all have a great Christmas with family and friends!🎅🏼🎄

And thanks to all my little Santa’s for my amazing gifts this year, you guys really out did yourself.. Keeping me warm, hydrated, caffeinated, and my hands and face feeling warm and healthy so I can keep doing the best work for your four legged babies.🎅🏼🎁

Wishing you a Merry Christmas, Sarah, Jasper & our four legged family 🎄🎁

29/11/2024

Hello Clients! I will be out of the office Monday the 2nd thru Thursday the 5th, if there is an emergency please call your vet. I will be at a conference and will not have my work phone on me. I will see you all in December! Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 🍁

04/11/2024

I'm goin to be honest. I'm the one who shod both of this two horses. Completely different results. And do you know why? The one to the left didn't stand still for a single second. I'm amazed i even got the shoes on. But I did. On Internet it's very easy to sit behind the screen and criticise harshly without knowing the history behind a photo. Owners can easily put out a photo on a hoof and people will say to the owner to change farrier and demand money back. Without having basic facts that the farrier who tried shoeing the horse risked his/her life to even give it a try. Be humble. Think twice. Find out the real story behind a photo. Because one photo does not tell the whole story.

31/10/2024

Happy Halloween 🎃

29/08/2024

The Last Trim

I gave a horse their last trim today.

I showed up to trim as I always do, to the news that this would be his last trim - his owner was saying goodbye in about 3 weeks.

I first met this horse about 6 years ago, and he was a “senior” horse then. He had been retired years prior due to a heart issue, and his owner has doted on him and kept him comfortable and happy and as healthy as possible in his retirement.

When I first met him, his owner stopped me before I picked up my nippers and shared her concern about how he “was always sore after every trim, sometimes for weeks.” I assured her I would be careful, and we agreed to use Hoof Armor as a simple callous layer to see if that would help.

Over the last 6 years, he has been comfortable and pasture sound over all surfaces, even gravel. His owner insisted the Hoof Armor was a game changer- so we applied it every trim for 6 years.

Together, with his owner’s management and a consistent trim cycle, we got his feet in a much better spot.

The last few months have been tough for him. At 32 years old, his body is starting to fail. He had a few recurrent infections, weight fluctuation issues. It’s gotten to where his owner wants to let him go on a good day, instead of when he is actively suffering. As someone who has seen horses go both ways- I will never judge someone for making this decision, and I also prefer a day too early than a day too late.

So today, I trimmed him, took one last photo of one of his feet, and asked his owner if she wanted to do one last Hoof Armor application.

“Oh yes,” she said, “everything as usual.”
She wants to keep him as comfortable as he has been, up to the very last moment possible.

So we finished up his appointment, I gave him some good scratches, and thanked him for letting me take care of his feet the last few years. And then I said goodbye.

As hoofcare providers, we have the privilege of working with horses every month or so, and get to know them and their owners. They become a part of our lives and we are able to see how they grow and change throughout the years.

It makes that last goodbye that much harder, and while today was sad, I am so glad we could keep this boy happy for the last 6 years.

As hoofcare pros, it means a lot to us to be a part of your journeys. Thank you to all the owners for trusting us with your horse’s care, even into their golden years ❤️